Channel-forming machine



June 12, 1 928.

C. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, i928.

C. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 12, 1928.

C. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMI NG MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 MYJ June 12, l 928.

C. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet June 12, 1928. 1,673,787

C. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMI NG MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 sheets-sheet 5 B M m "x v ilnueulozd as M3 June 12, 1928. 1,673,787

, c. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Shets-Sheec 6 \Q L/ IEIIIHI II II ii i i5 Ml IIIIH i :inucnfow 6 M i /4 M dHonn June 12, 1928. 1,673,787

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c. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMI NG MACHINE F'il ed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet g IIIIIIHIHIIIIIIINIWII MWHHHHH" i QIH i i 6.14am a?) @[H 9.

1? g affozuev June 12, 1928. 1,673,787

' c. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMI NG MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Q A W QY LUQMJOM (Z/L/izz/zzn w w m WA 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 jmmmw affmncqd June 12, 1928.

c. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Fild May 28, 1924 I II Ill/l/l/IIIIIIIIIIIIII.VIIIIWIIIII June '12, 1928. 1,673,787

C. A. FRAHM ET AL- CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet ll June 12, 1928. 1,673,787

c. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMI NG MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 y 3% M m Jun 12, 1928. 1,673,787

' C. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMI NG MACHINE Filed May 28; 1924 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 I CALI /"0km as J/zJm/afg V Q/M June 12, 1928. 1,673,787

- c. A. FRAHM ET AL CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 '15 Sheets-Sheet 14 June 12, 1928. I 1,673,787

' c. A. FRAHM ET L CHANNEL FORMING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1924 15 Sheets-sheet 15 g'nvemfou 614.5225; W db. MW.

akkozhup Patented June 12, 1928.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL A. FRAHM AND JULIUS H. SCHLAFLY, OF CANTON OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BERGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A

crmnnnn-ronmms MACHINE.

Application filed May 28,

The invention relates to a machine for making channels with edge flanges from steel strips, for use in building construction as sills, joist, studs, and the like; and the object of the improvement is to provide differential rolls with centering feeding guides and straightening delivery rolls for producing a flanged channel directly from a strip of sheet steel by a continuous operation, and

especially to provide lateral adjusting means for certain rolls, for producing channels with webs and flanges of different widths and depths upon thesame machine, without removing or replacing any portion thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, in two sections, of the entire machine, omitting certain portions of the driving gearing;

Fig- 2, a plan View of the forward portion of the machine, with the housings and the. gearings and rolls removed, to show the stationary and adjustable bases;

Fig. 2, a like view of the rear portion of the machine;

' Fig. 2 a fragmentary section, as on line 2 2 Fig. 2, showing a base adjusting guide; Fig.

of different widths, showing the initial bending of edge flanges to form channels of different widths and depths;

Fig. 4, a series of similar sections, show- 5 ing edge flanges completely formed thereon and the initial bending of channel flanges to form channels of different widths and de ths;

ig. 5, is a cross section of the guiding feed table on line55, Figs. 1 and 2, showing therein a steel strip of the greatest width usually employed;

Fig. 5, an enlargement of the guide adjusting rod and sleeve shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6, a front end view of the channel forming machine,- showing the feed and flattening rolls and the housings and gearings in elevation, with a steel strip in section of Figs. 1 and 2 of the bearings and housings,

the greatest width usually employed; and showing in section, as on line 6-6, Figs. 1

and 2, the right side adjusting means;

Fig. 7, a cross section, as on line 7-7, Figs. 1 and 2, of the initial edge-flange bending rolls, bearings and housings, and the 3, a series of sections of steel strips 1924. Serial No. 716,396.

left side adjusting means, showing the driving gearing in front elevation;

Fig. 7, an enlargement of the steel strip section with the initial bending of edge flanges, shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 8,. a cross section, as on line 88, Figs. 1 and 2, of the second edge-flange bending rolls, bearings, housings and bases, showing the rolls and driving gea'rings in front elevation;

Fig- 8 an enlargement of the steel strip with the second bending of edge flanges, shown in Fig. 8: V

Fig. 9, a cross section, as on line 9-9, Figs. 1 and 2, of the housings, bearings and left sldeadjusting means showing in front elevation the final bending rolls for the right side edge flange; I

Fig. 9, an enlargement of the steel strip section with the final bending of a right edge I flan 'e, shown in Fig. 9;

. Fig. 10, a cross section, as on line 1010, Figs. 1 and 2, of the housings, bearings and left side adjusting means, showing in front elevation the final bending rolls for a left side edge flange;

Fig. 10 an enlargement of the steel strip section with the final bending of a left edge flange, shown in Fig. 10; j

Fig. 11, a fragmentary section, as on line 11--11, Figs. 9 and 10, showing a side elevation of the final bending rolls for the edge flanges;

Fig. 12, a cross-section, as on line 12-12, Figs. 1 and 2, of the initial bending rolls for channel flanges, showing the bearings, housin s and left side .adjusting means;

ig. 12, an enlargement of the sheet strip section with the initial bending of channel flanges, shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 13, a cross-section, as on line 1313, Figs. 1 and 2, of the bearings and housings, showing in front elevation the second bending rolls for channel flanges;

Fig- 13, an enlargement of the steel strip section with the second bending of channel flanges, shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 14:, a cross-section as on line 14-14,

showing in front elevation the third bendingvrolls for the channel flanges;

ig. 14, an enlargement of the steel strip i Fig. 15, a cross-section, as on line 15-15, Figs. 1 and 2, of the housings, and bearings, showing in front elevation the fourth bendin rolls of a left side channel flange;

Fig. 15*, an enlargement of the steel strip section with the fourth bending of a left channel flange, shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 16, a cross-section, as on line 1616, Figs. 1 and 2, of the housings and bearings, showingin front elevation the fourth bending rolls for a right side channel flange;

Fig. 16, an enlargement of the steel strip section with the fourth bending of a right channel flange, shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 17, a cross-section, as on line 17 17, Figs. 1 and 2, of the housings and bearings, showing in front elevation the final rolls for a left side channel flange;

Fig. 17, is an enlargement of the steel strip section with the final bending of a left side channel flange, shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 18, a cross-section, as on line 1818, Figs. 1 and 2, of the housings and bearings, showing in front elevation the final bending rolls for a right side channel flange;

Fig. 18, is an enlargement of the steel strip section with the final bending of a right side' channel flange;

Fig. 19, a cross-section, as on line-1919, Figs. 1 and 2, of the bases, showing in front elevation the web flattening and delivery rolls and the bearings and housings therefor, and the channel straightening rolls beyond the same;

Fig. 20, a perspective view of a completely formed channel; and

Fig. 21, a fragmentary section of two channels with their webs abutted and joined together, as by rivets or spot welding, to form a steel joist.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The steel strips to be formed into channels are finished to the roper width and cut to the proper length or making the desired" product, and when the same are made from sheets they are slit to form strips having a suflicient width to include the web, the channel flanges, and the edge flanges of the channel to be formed.

The forming of channels from strips in-- angle require no lateral adjustment, and the same are mounted in bearings inhousings which are fixed upon the chine.

The width of the channel flange, however,

base of the maae'rene'r necessarily varies in the formation of channels of diflerent depths, as shown by light broken lines y-y traversing the sections shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings; which necessitates a lateral adjustment of the rolls employed for bending the angles between the channel flanges and the edge flanges, on each side of the assumed base line of the machine.

Furthermore, the width of the web necessarily varies in the formation of channels of different widths, as shown by light broken lines 2-2 traversing the sections shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings; and for this reason the rolls employed for bending the angle between the web and the left side channel flange, require a lateral adjustment with respect to the assumed base line of the machine, which corresponds to the location of the rolls employed for bending the angle between the web and the right side channel flange; the reference to right and left side being wit-h respect to one facing the front end of the machine and looking toward the rear end'thercof.

And finally, the varying width of the strips used for making channels of different widths and depths, requires not only a lat eral adjustment of the guides on the feed table with respect to each other, but also requires a lateral adjustment of the right side guide, so as to properly direct the strip into the forming machine for bending the angle of the right side edge flange at the proper distance from the angle tobe bent in forming the right side channel flange, as indicated by the heavy and light broken lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

i The feed table.

The feed table 22 may be mounted on corner standards 23 upon a base 24 secured by bolts 25 to the forward end of the stationary base 26 of the channel forming machine; and upon the to of the table are provided a plurality otransverse dovetailed channels 27, which receive and guide transverse dove-tailed slides 28 formed or secured on the bottom of the longitudinal guide plates 29 which plates rest and may slide laterally upon the top of the table.

A wearing plate 30 is preferably secured upon each guide plate 29 as by screws 31, and aligned guide bars 32 and 32" are secured upon the outer side of each wearing plate by means of bolts 33 extending through slotted apertures 34 in the guide bars 32 and through the wearing plates into the guide plates, sothat the guide bars may be. given a slight lateral adjustment thereon.

A guide roll 35 is mounted on each guide plate in the forward part of the table between the adjacent ends of the aligned guide bars 32 and 32' and a ide roll 35' 15 mounted on the rear end 0 each guide plate at the end of the guide bar 32. The guide rolls are mounted for turning on vertical axes, and the roll may be cylindrical in form with a conical flange on its lower end for acting on the edges of a steel strip A to center the same between the guide bars, while the rolls 35 may be provided with reversely coned flanges forming a groove'35" for centering and guiding the strip in the proper plane for entering between the nip or the feeding and flattening rolls 36 of the forming machine.

The guide bars are adjusted approxi mately to the width of the strip, while the guide rolls are adjusted more exactly thereto, so that the rolls will not only accurately center the strip but will direct it longitudinally into the channel forming machine in proper position for the operation of the series of bendin rolls.

A number 0 transverse channels 38, located a substantial distance apart, are provided in the top of the table, in each of which is located an adjusting screw rod 39 or 39 and a reverse screw sleeve 39 swivelled on one end thereof; and bearing plates 40 and 40' are secured to the sides of the table, in which the end portions of the rod and sleeve respectively are journaled, suitable collars 41 being provided on the rod and a collar flange 41' being provided on the sleeve to stop' the same from endwise movement.

Screw bearing lugs 42 and 42 are formed on or secured to the longitudinal plates 29 and depend into the transverse channel 38 for operating engagement with the screw rods and swivelled sleeves respectively, by

' means of which the guide plates and the guide members thereon may be adjusted laterally upon the table. A s uared shank 39" is provided at each end 0 atleast one of the screw rods, by means of which the same can be turned by a crank 43 applied to either end thereof.

A chain gear 44 connects the ends of the rods on one side of the machine, and a chain gear 44 connects the ends ofthe sleeve on the other side of the table, so that they will be rotated in unison.

A tubular extension 39 is provided on the outer end of one of the sleeves around the screw rod. This sleeve is provided with a plurality of longitudinally slits 39 and is surrounded by a split band 45 provided with radial flanges 45, by means of which the tubular extension of the, sleeve may be clamped upon the rod by a bolt 45 to ro-' tate the one by the other.

When it is desired to adjust the guides on the feed table for a strip of any particularwidth, the band 45 is clamped by the' bolt 45 around the tubular extension 39 of the sleeve to co-ordinate the movements of-the guide bars on both sides, and the rod and sleeve are then rotated together by the crank 43 on one rod, to adjust the right side guide bars and rolls laterally into proper position to direct the right edge of the strip into the channel forming machine for forming the right side flanges of the channel for which the strip is intended; whereupon the swiveled sleeve is released from the rod b unscrewing the bolt 45", whereupon the le t side guide bar and rolls are laterally adjusted for the left edge of the strip, by rotating the screw rod by the crank without turning the sleeve swiveled thereon; after which the sleeve is again clamped to the rod, and the guides can then be adjusted to and from each other to accommodate slight variations in the widths of strips.

The channel fawning machine.

Upon the main stationary base 26 of the channel forming machine, are mounted a number of movable bases 46, 46 and 46 for supporting the housings and bearings for firmly upon the stationary base, as shown in detail in Fig. 2.

The adjustable base 46 is L-shaped in dplan form and upon .the forward longitu inal stem portion thereof is mounted the housing 48 which carries the bearings 49 for the corresponding journal ends of shafts 36' of the feeding and flattening rolls 36, the bearings 49' for the corresponding journal ends of t 1e shafts 50" of the rolls 50 and 50' used for initially bending the right'edge flange w of a strip, and the corresponding journal ends of the shafts 51 of the rolls 51 and 51 used for the second bending of the right side edge flange a; and upon the transverse rear L portion 46' of the movable base 46 is mounted the housin 52 which carries the bearings 53, and 54 or the rolls 55, 55' and 56, respectivel which are used for finally bending the right side edge flange a" of a stri A screw bearing 57 is secured in each end of the movable base 46, in each of which bearings is operatively engaged a screw rod 58 or 58', which rods extend to the left through journal bearin 59 mounted on brackets 60 secured to t e left side of the stationary base, with end thrust collars 61 held in place by adjustable lock nuts 62 on the bar at each side of the bearings for holdthe ends of these rods for rotating them in unison by a crank on the protruding squareshank end 58" of either one of the rods.

By these means, the movable base 46 and the housings thereon with all the journal hearings carried thereby, may be bodily adjusted laterally of the forming machine, and the corresponding shafts are carried endwise with the bearings by the abutment of the hubs of the several rolls on the inner end and of a stop collar 64 on the outer end thereof; so that all these parts may be bodily adjusted laterally by a turning of the screw bars 58 and 58' by a crank on the end of either one of them, for bringing all the rolls which are successively used for bending the right side edge flange a" of a strip, into proper position for their particular work.

The maximum variation in the depth of a channel, and the corresponding width of the channel flanges, does not ordinarily exceed two or three inches, so that the feeding and flattening rolls and the right side edge bending rolls do not require any greater adjust ment than this variation; and to accommodate such an adjustment the individual gear wheels and the master gear wheel 66 are driven by pinions 65 and 66' having their faces wide enough to accommodate the lateral adjustment of the gear wheels without any corresponding movement of the pinions. The bearings 65 for the journalson the inner ends of the shafts 65" of the individual pinions 65 are mounted in the movable housing 48, and are free to move along these shafts during a lateral adjustment of this housing.

A stationary housing 48 is secured on the left forward corner of the stationary base and carries the bearings 36 for the corresponding journal ends of shafts of the feeding and flattening rolls 36; and these journals on the left end of the shaft 36 are free to slide endwise in the bearings during a lateral adjustment of the rolls, which aremade long enoughto include the widest strip for which the channel forming machine is designed, when the rolls are adjusted to the extreme right side position, as shown in .Fig. 6.

The adjustable base 46 is likewise L- shaped in plan form, and the rear trans verse L-portion 46 is spaced from and connected with the forward lon 'tudinally extending stem portion thereof by a flanged yoke 46, for receiving between them the transverse rear L-portion- 46' of the movable base 46 when these'bases are moved toward each other to adjust the forming rolls for making the narrower channels.

Upon the forward longitudinal stem portion of the movable base 46 is mounted the housing 48 which carries the bearings 49*" for the corresponding ends of the shafts 50" of the rolls 50 and 50 used for initially 4 bending the left edge of a strip a, and the corresponding ends of the shafts 51. of the rolls 51 and 51 used for the second bending of the left side edge a; and upon the transverse rear L-portion 46 of the movable base 46* is mounted the housing 52 which carries the bearings 53 and 5a for the rolls 55, 55" and 56 respectively, which are used for finally bending the left side edge flange a".

A screw bearing 57* is secured in each end of the movable base 46, in which bearing screw rods 58 or 58 are operatively engaged. These rods extend to the left through journal 59 mounted on brackets 60 secured to the left side of the stationary base,

with end thrust collars 61 held in place by adjustable lock nuts 62 on the rod at each side of the bearings, for holding the rods from endwise movement; and a chain bearing 63 is operatively mounted on the ends of these rods for rotating them in unison by a crank on the protruding square shank end 58" of either one of these rods.

By these means, the movable base 46 and the housings thereon, with all the journal bearings carried thereby, may be bodily adjusted laterally of the forming machine for bringing all the rolls successively used for bending the left edge flanges a of a strip 51' and 51 are splined upon the shaft 50 and 51" so as to slide endwise thereon, and these hubs are extended along the shafts to form journal sleeves 50 and 51 respectively for turning in the bearings 49 and 49 the journal sleeves being stopped from endwise movement in the bearings by the abutment of the roller hubs on one end and the abutment of a stop collar 64 on the other end thereof.

The final bending rolls for each edge flange a" of a strip, include a pair of cylindric rolls 55 or 55 turning on axes at right angles to and to permit this adjustment, the 'hubs of the left side rolls 50 and 50 and each other which are journaled in a bracket disk wheel 56 or 56*.turm'ng on an inclined axis journaled in a bearing 54 or 54*, for operating on the inner sides of the angles opposite the ends of the under and outer rolls, to finally form the edge flange at an exact right angle to the body A of the strip, as shown in Flgs. 9 and 10.

The bearing brackets 53 and 53 are each provided with transverse slide flanges 53 bearing in transverse slide ways 67 formed in a supportingbase 67 secured in the housing 52 or 52. A screw rod 68 is journaled in a bearing 68' in the side wall of the housing, with stop collars 68" on each side thereof, and is operatively engaged in a screw bearing 53" formed on or secured to the bearing bracket for adjusting the cylindric rolls together laterally in the respective housings so as to accurately position them for their particular work. 7

The bearing brackets 54 and 54 for the V-face rolls 56 and 56, are provided with transverse slide flanges 54' hearing in transverse slide ways 69' formed in a supporting bracket 69 depending from and secured to the top of the housing 52 or 52 by bolts 69". A screw rod 68' is journaled in a bearing 68 in the side wall ,of the housing, with stop collars 68 on each side thereof, and is operatively engaged in a screw bearing 54" formed or secured on the bearing bracket for adjusting the V-face roll laterally in housing, so as to accurately position the same for its particular work.

The upper face of the upper wall 68 of the supporting bracket is formed in a downwardly diverging plane from the opposing underside face of the top wall 52 of the housing, and a wedge plate is interposed between these faces, between which it is endwise movable by means of a screw rod 70 secured to the housing and extending through L-flange 70 on the free end of the wedge plate with a nut 70 on each side thereof, for adjusting the supporting bracket and V-face roll upward and downward with in the housing, to accurately position the same for its particular work.

It will be understood that the bolts 69 are loosened before a lateral or a vertical adjustment is -made for the supporting bracket 69 and that these bolts may be tightened after an adjustment is made; and it will also be understood that the described lateral adjustments which may be given to the cylindric rolls 55, and the lateral and vertical adjustments which may be given to the V-face rolls 56, may be made independently of each other, as well as of the lateral adjustment which may be given to all of these rolls together by the movable bases 46 and 46 upon which their respective housings are mounted; so that these rolls can not only be adjusted together into proper position for bending an edge flange into proper width, but'can be adjusted independently for properly cooperating in the final formation of the channel flange at an accurate right angle from the web A of the strip.

A stationary housing 48 is fixed upon a seat 46 formed or secured upon the stationary base 26; which housing carries the bearings 4 for the shafts 71", 72 and 73" for the rolls 71 and 71', 72 and 72' and 73 and 73' used for the first, second and third bending of the right channel flanges b, for which no lateral adjustment of these rolls is required because the angle of this flange is the assumed base line upon which the stationary or non-adjustable parts of the machine is built.-

Likewise, stationary housings 52 and 52" are fixed upon seats 46" formed or secured upon the stationary base 26; which housings carry the bearing brackets 53 and 53, for the cylindric rolls 55, and the bearing brackets 54 and 54 for the V-face rolls 56, which are used for the fourth and for the fifth and final bending of the right side channel flange b" of a strip, which rolls are mounted in their respective housings for the same lateral and vertical adjustments which have been described for the like rolls which have been used in finally bending the edge flanges.

The adjustable base 46 is L-shaped like the adjustable base 46, except that its forward longitudinal portion is. somewhat longer and that it is provided with two rear transverse portions 46, which are spaced apart and connected together by a flanged yoke 46" for receiving between them the forward seat portion 46" of the stationar base upon-which the housing 52 in whic the fourth right side channel bending rolls are mounted.

Upon the forward longitudinal stem portion of the movable base 46 is mounted the housing 48", which carries he bearings 4 for the journal sleeves 7F", 72" and 73"" on the ends of the hubs of the corresponding rolls used for the first three bendings of the left channel flange 1) of a strip, which hubs and sleeves are splined upon the shafts 71",

72 and 73 to permit an endwise sliding adjustment thereon; and upon the transverse rear L portions 46" of the movable base 46", are mounted the housings 52*" and 52 which carry the bearings 53", for the cylindric rolls 55 and 55 and the bear-v ings 54 for the V-face rolls 56 which are used for the fourth and the final bendi I of the left side channel flange b", whi c fi rolls are provided with the same means for lateral and vertical adjustment within their housings described for the corresponding rolls in finally bending the edge flanges.

A screw bearing 57 is secured in each end of the movable base 46, in each of which bearings is operatively engaged a screw rod 58*, which rod extends to the left through journal bearings 59 mounted on brackets- 60 secured to the left side 'of the stationary base with end thrust collars 61 held in place by adjustable lock nuts 62 at each side of the bearings, for holdin the rods from endwise movement; and a c ain bearing 63 is operatively mounted on the ends of these rods for rotating them in unison on the square shank end 58" of either one of the rods.

By these means, the movable'base 48 and the housing thereon with the journal bearings carried thereby, may be bodily adjusted 

